Aston Villa must axe Leandro Bacuna if they are to field their best possible starting line-up against Brighton at Villa Park on Sunday.

The 25-year-old has barely put in a good performance all season and must make way for Albert Adomah on the right wing.

Steve Bruce must also switch formation to a 4-4-2 as Scott Hogan has shown difficulty playing as a lone striker since his winter transfer from Brentford.

Gabriel Agbonlahor should get the nod from Bruce to start the game alongside Hogan in attack, as he remains the only other striker fit enough to start the game with Jonathan Kodjia nursing a broken ankle.

Jack Grealish should also return to the starting line-up to play on the left in the place of Gary Gardner.

Sam Johnstone must be handed a starting place against Brighton as his loan deal is set to come to an end after the game.

The Manchester United ‘keeper should start behind an unchanged back four of Alan Hutton, James Chester, Nathan Baker and Neil Taylor.

Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury must start in the centre of midfield with Adomah and Grealish providing wide support to both Hogan and Agbonlahor up front.

Villa will face a tough task against Brighton, as Chris Hughton and his men will know that a win will be enough to secure themselves the Championship title.

Newcastle, who have a home fixture with Barnsley, will be named champions if they can better the Gulls result.

The highest position Villa can realistically finish in is 11th, but can still drop into the bottom half of the table if results go against them on Sunday.